Can-opener.



6.1. FHzPATRiCK. CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED )UNE |914.

1,159,917.- Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

GEORGE J'. FITZPATRICK, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN-OPENER.

1- Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Nov. e, 1915.

Application led J' une 1, 1914. Serial No.'842,091.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. FITZPAT- RICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, -in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an im of the can opener; to so arrange the knife as to permit a sliding and turning movement of the same with respect to the body of the opener; to arrange the members which rest against the outer periphery of the can in such relation to the knife or cutting member as to permit the implement to readily turn the corners of a square or rectangular can during the cutting thereof; and to provide a device for the purpose specified whichl is'cheap and simple of. construction and durable in use.

The invention further consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In theart to which the present invention relates, difficulty has been experienced in constructing a practical and efficient opener which would allow of the turning of the knife portion of 'the opener in conformity with the outlines of a square, rectangular or oblong can.

One of the primary objects ofthe present invention is to provide an opener which will permit of the cutting or knife member followin .the configuration of the above referre to styles of cans.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan View showing the opener of the present invention in operative relation to a rectangular shaped can; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the opener; Fig. 3 is a sectioii on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direcwhether rectangular,

tion of the arrow;v and Fig. 4 is a detail section of one of the rollers or guide members of the opener.

Referringnow to the drawings, and par'- ticularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the device vas therein illustrated, consists of a body 5 lof suitable'metallic material, which body is of a 4one-piece formation, and is formed with a longitudinally extending central-ly disposed slot 6 extending the major portion thereof. The forward end of the body portion terminatos in a pointedl member-or prong 7 which 1s adapted to penetrate that surface of the can which is being cut, and to form a positive connection between the opener and can during the can-opening operation. The other end of the body portion, in the construction shown, receivesa handle 8 of suitable shape and size, and adjacent the handle,

inthe construction show-n, the body is configured to provide an oblong opening 9, and one of the walls surrounding the said opening is formed with a lip 10, whereby this portion of the body constitutes an opener for removing metallic caps from the bottles.

The mechanism which performs the cutting operation consists of a plate-like member 12 which is shown with an opening in 'the' rear thereof, principally in order to reduce the weight, and a cutting member or knife 13 depends from said plate. Said knife is formed, in the construction shown,

by blanking out from said plate a portion thereof and bending the blanked out portion downward. The knife portion is of such configuration that when it cuts it bends downward both sides of the tin or other metal along the cut, thereby eliminating projecting rough edges on the opened can. Depending from the plate-like member 1l are companion rollers 14 mounted upon headed stems 15, as shown in F ig; 4. These rollers are spaced a distance apart, whereby their adjacent edges lie beyond the confines of the knifeportion, `as shown in Fig. 3.

They are also spaced sufficient distance to the rear lof the knife portion, as will be seen from Fig. 2, s o that, in turning the corners of cans, a binding will not result.

As will be seen, the plate lies directly below the body portion and is in engagement therewith, although such engagement is such as to permit' a s iding and turning of the plate with respect to the body, and the plate may, therefore, be said to be in movable contact or engagement with the body. Projecting upwardly from the plate is a stem 16 which is attached thereto, as shown in Fig. 2. This stem receives a bushing 17 which engages with the walls of the slot 6 of the body portion, and this stem has attached to its upper end a washer 18 which overlies said slot, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 3, and prevents separation of the plate and stem from the body. It will be obvious from the foregoing description that said plate, together with the cutter and rollers carried thereby, has a free turning and sliding movement with respect to the body portion. The rear portion 19 of the plate 11 is in the form of a finger piece, and it is preferred to make this finger piece of the same width as the width of that portion of the body having the slot 6 therein, so that, when the operator alines this portion 19 of thev plate 11 with the body, the knife 13 will be directly below the slot and in properpo# sition to be forced through that surface of the can which is to be cut.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily understood lfrom the foregoing description. Now referring particularly to Fig. 1, where the device is shown as cutting an oblong can, the pointedymember or prong 7 is inserted through that surface of the can which is to be cut at each side of the center, as Shown in said figure. The plate 11 is moved longitudinally of the slot 6 until the rollers -14 enga-gethe side of the can, after which by a downward pressure on the washer 18, or on the top of the body, the cutting or knife member is forced through the top of the can, and then by grasping the handle and applying pressure, the cutter will move along the edge of the can forming a line of cut, as will be understood by referring to Fig. 1.

The cutter will be maintained the same distance from the edge of the can by reason of the guiding action of the rollers 14 resting on the outside of the can.` In turning the corners, or as the cutting member iS moved around the edge of the can, it can readily slide and turnl so as to allow the knife member to always maintain its correct position with respect to the surface of the can being operated upon to effect the cutting thereof, without turning the knife into a position where the cutting edge would be inoperative and a tearing of the surface of the can would. result. In the turning of the corner, as will be understood from Fig. l, it will be readily seen that one of the rollers will always be in engagement with the periphery of the can, and will accurately and correctly guide the cutting member around said corners. If, however, the rollers were positioned close together, a binding would obviously result during such turning movement. It is, therefore, important to space the rollers a sutlicient distance apart, and preferably beyond the edges of the knife member, and it is also desirable to space the rollers a substantial distance to the rear of the knife to eliminate a binding in turning corners-and permit a free and easy move-- ment of the implement. If the cutting member should, for any reason, become bound in turning a corner, the operator, by pressing on the portion 19 of the plate 11, can readily cause it to swing about the corner.

From the foregoing, it will be readily observed that the device is extremely cheap and simple of construction, and is eective for the opening of all forms and styles of cans.

. Although the stud is shown as surrounded by a bushing, this is only to permit an easy travel of the stud through the slot, and so far as the invention is concerned, this bushing is to be considered a part of the stud, and the stud may, therefore,be said to engage with the walls of the slot..

I claim:

1. In a can opener, the combination of a bodv portion having' a longitudinal slot therein, a plate positioned directly below the body portion and in movable engagement therewith, a cutting member depending from said plate a Stud connected to said plate and extending through saidl slot and engaging with the walls thereof, means on the -upper end of said stud for preventing separation of the stud and plate from the body, said Stud forming the sole connection between the body and plate, and rollers depending from saidplate located to the rear of said cutting member and arranged to' engage with the outer periphery of the can, substantially as described. A v

2. In a can opener, the combination of a body portion having a longitudinal slot therein, a plate 'below said body portion and vin movable engagement therewith, a stud secured to the plate and extending through the slot and engaging with the walls thereof, means on the upper end of said stud for preventing separation of the stud and plate from the body, said Stud forming the sole means of connection between' the body and plate, a cuttingl member depending from said plate, rollers depending 'from said plate and lying to the rear of the cutting member and arranged to engage the periphery of the cam, and a finger'piece on said plate located to the rear thereof, substantially as described.

3. In a can opener, the combination of a body portion having al longitudinal slot therein, a plate located directly below said body portion and in movable engagement therewith, a stud secured to Said plate and extending through saidslot and engaging with the walls thereof,'means on the upper end of said stud for preventing separation of the stud and plate from the body, said stud forming the sole means of connection between the plate and body, a cutting member depending from said plate, rollers depending from said plate and lying to the rear of the cutting member and spaced apart a distance whereby they lie beyond the edges of the cutting member, and a finger piece on the rear of said plate, said finger piece 10 being of a Width equal to the Width .of the body portion, substantially as described.

GEO. J. FITZPATRICK.

Witnesses:

WM. P. BOND, J oHN A. Bonn. 

